ntroduction
This is a case study that seeks to discuss the assessment and treatment of a pediatric
patient with mood disorders. The current case study is that of an 8 year old boy of African
American decent. The patient is brought to the Emergency Room (ER) with his mother, and
he is exhibiting signs of depression. The patient self-reports that he is sad. This is while his
mother notes that he has decreased appetite and he is occasionally irritated. The mother also
reports that the patient’s teachers have mentioned that he is withdrawn from his peers in
class. Other notable information include that the patient reached all developmental landmarks
at appropriate ages and that his laboratory results were Within Normal Limits (WNL). His
physical exam was also unremarkable. It is as a result of all of the above information that the
patient is referred to psychiatry for evaluation.
Mental exam was conducted on the patient. Results reveal that the patient is alert and
well oriented. His judgment and insight is age appropriate and he is able to communicate in a
clear and focused manner. He is even able to smile at different intervals during the interview.
The patient reports that he is ‘sad’ and that he does not have any form of hallucinations. The
patient is also not delusional or paranoid, and does not exhibit signs of active suicidal
ideation, though he mentions that he has had thoughts of being dead, and what it would be
like to be dead. The Children's Depression Rating Scale is conducted on the patient and
reveals a score of 30, thus depicting that the patient is suffering from significant depression.
Since the patient is a child of only 8 years, it is prudent to immediately commence medication
to mitigate potential lasting adverse effects of depression.
Decision #1
Given the patient’s specific situation, the ideal decision is to begin Zoloft 25 mg
orally daily. Zoloft when taken correctly is capable of mitigating most of the symptoms that
are exhibited by the patient (Viswanathan, 2020). For instance, Zoloft can effectively reduce
Struggling with online classes or exams? Get expert help to ace your coursework, assignments, and tests stress-free!